India-Kyrgyzstan bid to shore up economic, political ties

New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) Reaffirming their commitment to strengthening all-round cooperation, India and Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday called for developing a comprehensive roadmap for shoring up the below potential mutual trade and investments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between the two countries in the international arena and called for measures to tackle challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the world.

“The current level of trade and investment relations between India and Kyrgyzstan is below the potential available and the countries directed their respective ministries and departments to develop a comprehensive roadmap in this area for a five-year time frame,” said a joint statement.

The countries also agreed to explore new mechanisms to further strengthen mutual economic ties.

The two leaders instructed that work be undertaken on the liberalisation of visa procedures, to create the most favourable conditions to enhance cooperation in diverse areas including science and technology, trade and economy as well as education and culture.

The leaders noted the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism both to Asia and the world and called for the adoption by the United Nations of the draft Comprehensive Convention on Combating International Terrorism.

The two countries also signed six agreements, including on tourism, agriculture and youth affairs, and resolved to work towards effective visa facilitation.

“As part of discussions on the integration process in the Eurasian space, the Kyrgyz side highlighted opportunities available for Indian entrepreneurs as a result of their joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU).

“The two sides noted progress in the work of the Joint Study Group that has been considering the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union,” said the statement.

The leaders also noted that cargo movement on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) would be a significant step in the direction of solving logistics issues and would give a fillip to India-Kyrgyzstan trade relations.

Both sides also took note of projects under implementation and those in the pipeline in fields such as information technology, healthcare, telemedicine, agriculture, biomedical research, training and capacity building, education and culture.

The two sides also expressed satisfaction over mutual cooperation in the field of defence.

The two countries are jointly constructing the Kyrgyz-Indian Mountain Training Centre in Balykchy of Kyrgyzstan which will provide instruction and training to Kyrgyz armed forces.

They welcomed the ratification of the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC by a number of countries, and emphasised that the Agreement should continue to be guided by the principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), especially the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR).

President Atambayev was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan and invited Modi to a state visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, which Modi accepted.